The efficient curtain wall system is the first line of defense against energy use and is just on part of the strategy in order to achieve LEED certification. The eco tower is expected to be completed in 2014.

The slender and elegant 34-story tower rises above a transparent and translucent building base, and is part of a mixed-use master plan designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and developed by IDEURBAN/IDCity from Mexico. The project consists of commercial space, low-rise residential buildings, and a hotel and residential tower.

Speaking of the design, Design Partner-in-charge Bernhard Karpf commented: “Mexico City has always been among the most important cultural and commercial centers in Latin America. The new tower will undoubtly contribute visual significance to the skyline of the city and to the neighborhood. The design is inspired by a modern interpretation of Aztec forms.”

The building’s orientation and facade are a reflection of the site as well as issues of sustainability, maximum efficiency and flexibility. The south and east facades are composed of a continuous high-performance curtain wall modulated by subtle and sculptural folds, while the north and west elevations are composed of a curtain wall system with modular and orthogonal expressions.

Views and daylight are provided via floor to ceiling glass windows, but solar heat gain is tempered with low-E coatings and fritted glass. The efficient curtain wall system is the first line of defense against energy use, and is just one part of the strategy to achieve LEED certification.